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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s detained former PM Imran Khan confirmed on Wednesday that he was stepping aside as leader of the political party he founded in 1996 and handing the baton to a close associate in his inner circle, barrister Gohar Ali Khan. The move, although not unexpected, appeared to catch by surprise many supporters of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Lawyer Ali Zafar, who is representing Imran in several of the court cases against him, said Gohar had been named to head PTI as a “temporary arrangement”.
He said at an impromptu presser outside the premises of the country’s election commission that the cricketer-turned-politician wouldn’t be contesting the intra-party elections next week.
Imran’s decision to abdicate, at least on paper, the post of PTI chief had been the topic of TV debates since late Tuesday. A handful of junior lawyers representing the party at legal briefings remained tightlipped about whether Gohar was the chosen one for a long-term assignment.
Imran’s exit was seen as a formality after he was convicted in the Toshakhana graft case, making his position as the chief of a registered political party legally untenable.
Zafar said the move to appoint a successor to Imran quickly was meant to pre-empt any “illegal or unconstitutional” steps by the electoral watchdog such as disallowing the party from retaining its election symbol — a cricket bat – or cancelling the nominations of its candidates for the upcoming general elections to the national and provincial legislatures.
“The public is with us. We will win the elections when they happen. I want to take part in the general election. Intra-party polls hold no meaning for me. I want the Toshakhana case to be decided as soon as possible. When it is decided, I will contest intra-party polls as chairman,” Zafar quoted Imran as saying.
On whether Gohar being named chairperson meant he would remain so even after the intra-party polls, the lawyer said, “His (Gohar) nomination will make it clear to you that this is not a coup, and that this is not a minus-one formula. He is suitable for the interim arrangement we are making and is Imran Khan’s personal nominee. Imran Khan is PTI, and PTI is Imran Khan. Without Imran Khan, the PTI is nothing. If you are the chairman in theory, it makes no difference.”
Gohar expressed gratitude for being picked to head Pakistan’s main opposition party. “I am stunned. There are no words to express my gratitude to Imran Khan sahib.”
Lawyer Ali Zafar, who is representing Imran in several of the court cases against him, said Gohar had been named to head PTI as a “temporary arrangement”.
He said at an impromptu presser outside the premises of the country’s election commission that the cricketer-turned-politician wouldn’t be contesting the intra-party elections next week.
Imran’s decision to abdicate, at least on paper, the post of PTI chief had been the topic of TV debates since late Tuesday. A handful of junior lawyers representing the party at legal briefings remained tightlipped about whether Gohar was the chosen one for a long-term assignment.
Imran’s exit was seen as a formality after he was convicted in the Toshakhana graft case, making his position as the chief of a registered political party legally untenable.
Zafar said the move to appoint a successor to Imran quickly was meant to pre-empt any “illegal or unconstitutional” steps by the electoral watchdog such as disallowing the party from retaining its election symbol — a cricket bat – or cancelling the nominations of its candidates for the upcoming general elections to the national and provincial legislatures.
“The public is with us. We will win the elections when they happen. I want to take part in the general election. Intra-party polls hold no meaning for me. I want the Toshakhana case to be decided as soon as possible. When it is decided, I will contest intra-party polls as chairman,” Zafar quoted Imran as saying.
On whether Gohar being named chairperson meant he would remain so even after the intra-party polls, the lawyer said, “His (Gohar) nomination will make it clear to you that this is not a coup, and that this is not a minus-one formula. He is suitable for the interim arrangement we are making and is Imran Khan’s personal nominee. Imran Khan is PTI, and PTI is Imran Khan. Without Imran Khan, the PTI is nothing. If you are the chairman in theory, it makes no difference.”
Gohar expressed gratitude for being picked to head Pakistan’s main opposition party. “I am stunned. There are no words to express my gratitude to Imran Khan sahib.”
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